Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 335 His Majesty's Purpose

Zhou Zhao did not hesitate.

"Abolishing corporal punishment does not mean exempting or reducing punishment, and it will no longer deter those with malicious intentions."

Why are women in our Great Qi Dynasty fined for not marrying? Because of a shortage of male laborers. How long does it take to raise a single able-bodied man? Fifteen years.

Those subjected to corporal punishment were divided into two types: those sentenced to death, who were instead castrated. If someone committed a capital crime, how could they be replaced? They should be executed; the criminal had no reason to harbor any illusions.

One method involved escaping the death penalty but not escaping punishment. The conscripted man, after being punished, became disabled, unable to serve and requiring support. The original members of the household had to be freed up to care for him. One form of corporal punishment rendered two conscripts useless.

They changed corporal punishment to forced labor, sending them to guard the borders. They could build city walls, mine mountains, defend against foreign invaders, and reclaim wasteland.

No need for fifteen years, we'll have enough people to support us, which will alleviate our immediate needs. Why not do it?

The room fell silent. The Marquis of Huaiyang did not speak to stop them, but he secretly glanced at His Majesty.

His Majesty's face remained expressionless, making it impossible to discern whether he agreed or disagreed.

Zhou Zhao was not in a hurry, as corporal punishment was too cruel.

Humans should not be treated like livestock, lying on a chopping board, dismembered without dignity, left to fend for themselves.

The Great Qi Dynasty is in dire need of reconstruction, and His Majesty's policy of recuperation and restoration is precisely to allow the people who have experienced the ravages of war to recover. Now is a time of severe manpower shortage. She has no interest in discussing legal principles with His Majesty, nor in mentioning any humanitarian considerations.

She knew very well that His Majesty used the law to govern the country.

Although they have different starting points, they can arrive at the same destination by different paths.

After a long silence, His Majesty spoke, "Zhou Zhao, stay."

The Marquis of Huaiyang's lips moved, but he didn't say anything in the end. He led the worried-looking He Tingshi out.

The room fell silent, and Zhou Zhao remained in the posture of bowing and presenting his report.

His Majesty raised his eyes and looked at the little girl in front of him. She was not flustered at all, her hands did not even tremble, and her breathing was very steady.

"Aren't you afraid of me? Why?"

"Your Majesty is a wise ruler, and I am determined to be a good minister, so I have nothing to fear."

His Majesty shook his head helplessly. "Seeing you reminds me of Zhou Yan. He was standing in the same spot as you, bowing as he presented his memorial. Zhou Yan looked calm, but he was actually very soft-hearted and still had the innocence of a young man; you seem to act extremely and are quite reckless, but you have a maturity beyond your years."

Zhou Zhao shook his head.

“If Zhao Ruo were an experienced man, His Majesty wouldn’t have seen through him so easily. He’s just putting on a brave face.”

His Majesty was taken aback, gave Zhou Zhao a deep look, and then laughed.

"Indeed. Do you know why I summoned you here today?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "I do not know."

As she spoke, her heart was in her throat.

In that instant, she was certain that Han Xincheng's earlier act of dusting off his white robe had indeed had a deeper meaning.

Bai, is he telling her to be honest?
His Majesty summoned her to the palace today not for the matter of corporal punishment at all; to be precise, it was not just about corporal punishment.

She had already explained the matter of corporal punishment clearly in her memorial, so there was no need to add anything.

Needless to say, He Tingshi's memorial, which could be used as a straw mat, must have been written down after racking his brains, using everything he could think of.

Your Majesty has come for the secret of the bamboo slips.

Zhou Zhao's mind was racing, and he didn't dare to stop for a moment.

What exactly did His Majesty do in the Shanming Changyang case? Why did he tell the princess the secret? Zhang Ran is His Majesty's confidant. Did His Majesty authorize him to meet the princess at the Shanming Villa? Does he know who the murderer is? If he does, why is he protecting the murderer? Zhou Zhao has many questions he wants to ask.

However, Prince Consort Fan had already asked, but had not received any answer at all.

If she were to ask the question, would the result be different?

Was the person who infiltrated Zhou Yan's residence His Majesty's men? He sent people to keep an eye on her, so he guessed that she had already cracked the secret of the bamboo slips?
Zhou Zhao pursed his lips, deciding to remain unchanged in the face of any change.

"I want you to retrieve what Princess Changyang left behind and deliver it to me, Zhou Zhao."

Zhou Zhao's pupils suddenly contracted.

As expected, His Majesty already knew.

Zhou Zhao cupped his hands and lowered his body even further. "Your Majesty, I wish to know who killed my brother Zhou Yan."

Are you trying to negotiate with me?

"No, Your Majesty, I implore you that a life for a life is a promise Your Majesty has made to every citizen of Daqi. I am filled with trepidation and have been waiting for Your Majesty to fulfill this promise."

Zhou Zhao raised his eyes and looked at the emperor high above him behind the desk.

The king, who had emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, stared at Zhou Zhao without blinking. His eyes revealed no emotion, and Zhou Zhao had no doubt that he might suddenly fly into a rage and cut off her head at any moment. But she was not afraid, nor could she afford to be afraid.

She had always chosen a bloody, unconventional path to advancement, never intending to humbly navigate the officialdom.

Justice is clear, and it's never just talk; it's earned by risking one's life.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Zhao felt that every breath he took was tense and imminent.

But she still did not back down.

"Aren't you afraid that I will send someone to kill Zhou Yan?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "My brother is utterly loyal to His Majesty. If His Majesty asks any questions, he will answer them without hesitation. If His Majesty wants him dead at midnight, he will definitely not stay until dawn. His Majesty has no need to take action against him, because you know Zhou Yan better than anyone else. He is just that kind of person."

His Majesty remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh.

“Zhou Yan is indeed such a person. He is someone I have high hopes for, and someone I want to leave to the future emperor as his right-hand man.”

As Zhou Zhao listened, he felt a mixture of pride and profound melancholy.

Zhou Yan is such a good person that no one who has ever spent time with him can say anything bad about him.

He is the true bright moon in the sky.

He is upright and honest.

"Unfortunately, I cannot answer you who killed Zhou Yan, because I do not know either."

Zhou Zhao's fingers trembled slightly as she observed every detail of the person opposite her, trying to figure out if he was lying, but unfortunately, she found nothing.

"The Six Paths Heavenly Book is a masterpiece of secret techniques collected by the founding emperor of the previous dynasty. Back then, he used experts in finding auspicious burial sites to search for the elixir of immortality, and unintentionally obtained an ancient tortoise shell that could predict the future."

The tortoise shell was originally in the tomb, protected by the body of a legendary deity. However, after it was taken out, one could clearly feel the magical power emanating from the tortoise shell dissipating. Therefore, the founding emperor of the previous dynasty ordered the most skilled weapon-making craftsman of the time to work with it.

Together with the then-national advisor Chu, they refined the tortoise shell and other rare treasures they had found into a wordless heavenly book, also known as the "Six Paths Heavenly Book".

You're probably familiar with the rumors surrounding the "Six Paths Heavenly Book." Legend has it that it contains the secret to immortality, allowing one to escape the cycle of reincarnation and resurrect the dead. However, these are nothing but nonsense.

If the "Heavenly Book" were truly that miraculous, where would the Great Enlightenment be now?

After the fall of the previous dynasty, the "Six Paths Heavenly Book" fell into my hands.